DCIS Treatment

imadare6 · Regular Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Indiana

I have had surgery for calcification removal, then another because margin was not clear in one area. Dr. wants radiation but I live 45 mi. from facility and 6 wks of treatment in winter along with my RA would be impossible. He has mentioned MammoSite and said he will think about it and call me, 5 days of 2 times a day seems better choice to me. Has anyone had this situation and/or refused radiation or tamoxifen?
Hoosier

dizzybuff38 · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 7:01 am Post subject: Re: DCIS Treatment

Hi Hoosier - I live in an isolated Fort on the water in Cornwall, and it takes almost 2 hours each way to get to the hospital where I am being treated - by car, ferry then car. When I was told I needed chemo I didn't think I would be able to do this journey but then I realised I would do anything to prevent a recurrence - I had invasive ductal carcinoma which had already spread. Chemo was only every 3 weeks and my elderly, disabled husband thankfully took me to every session and sat next to me whilst having the infusion.
However, the thought of 5 and a half weeks of Mon-Fri radiotherapy treatments filled me with horror - I just couldn't see myself doing that awful journey and my husband was not up to all that driving.I broke down one chemo session and my breast care nurse said she would arrange volunteer transport for the rx. I had male drivers, who came right to the Fort, we picked up dialysis patientson the way to the hospital, had 3 mins treatment then had to wait up to an hour for the driver to come back and pick me up, and others, who were in a worse state than myself. It made me feel very humble. Some days it took 6 hours door to door - I took a book, a drink and some dry discuits.
I am so glad now that I did it and gave myself every chance I could.
Most of the drivers had lost their wives to breast cancer, and this was their way of putting something back into our socialised health care system.It is a very individual choice whether to go with rx or not, and you have every right to refuse it. Could you perhaps ask the treatment centre if they have volunteer drivers in your area? I didn't know they were available here until my nurse told me.
I wish you well in the forthcoming months - the rx treament is a doddle compared with chemo, but it does make you very tired.
Take care, love, Liz.

Muttsmom · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 9:54 am Post subject: Re: DCIS Treatment

HI,
Like Liz, I would do everything possible to prevent a reoccurence. I had to drive one hour each way for treatment. Of course the driving everyday gets old, but having a reoccurence would be by far the worst thing. No matter what it took, I'd have those treatments.
Best of luck
Nancy
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

penelopez · Senior User Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 165

Hi,

I would strongly recommend doing some kind of radiation. It really does decrease the possibility of a local recurrence. This is especially important because the margin was not clean.

Sometimes the hospitals have a program whereby they help with transportation - a bus or van to help rural people get to their appointments. Also, I think the American Cancer Society has volunteer drivers to help people get to their appointments. It wouldn't hurt to ask.

Good luck,

Margie

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Breast Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others